NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Monday decided to examine a plea seeking recall of its Sept 26 bail order to DMK’s Senthil Balaji on the ground that witnesses may not feel free to depose against a cabinet minister. Balaji was granted bail in a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam.
In what can have implications for similarly placed politicians, SC, which has recently modulated rigorous bail provisions of special laws like PMLA and UAPA by ruling that the principle ‘bail is the rule and jail is the exception’ is also applicable in these offences, indicated that it would send a wrong signal if a high-profile accused was re-inducted in public office immediately after bail. It said justice should not only be done but should also be seen to be done.
A bench of Justices A S Oka and A G Masih said it would not re-examine its verdict but would examine the limited aspect of apprehension that witnesses may feel in the case.
In contrast to the convention of politicians quitting official positions after being arrested and chargesheeted – something that was followed across the political spectrum for decades – some high-profile politicians have held on to their positions despite having been incarcerated. The SC, which did not object to the departure from convention so far, now seems to be firming up a position against it.
The court’s remarks in Balaji’s case follow its earlier order where it gave the chief of TMC youth wing bail on the condition that he would not hold any official position. Balaji, on the other hand, was re-inducted as minister three days after being released on bail following a 15-month stint in custody.
“The present application is based on apprehension… The apprehension is that considering the seriousness of the allegations against the second respondent in the predicate offences, witnesses may not be in the frame of mind to depose against the second respondent who is now holding the position of a cabinet minister. This is the only aspect on which, prima facie, we are inclined to consider the application,” the bench said in its order.
Sensing the mood and prima facie opinion of the bench, senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Balaji, urged the court to refrain from issuing notice in the case and assured that he would take instruction and brief the court on the next date of hearing.
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